17. May 2023

4 Min read

    Contents

      Written by Robert Merki

      CTO of R&M

      Cooling air wasted

      One of the most important energy-saving options for data centers is undoubtedly cooling management. It includes detailed sensors, embedded in the DCIM, and strict regulation of temperatures and air conditioning.

      Many operators generate a low-temperature climate of 16 to 18 degrees Celsius in the computer room. Some run fans at high speed. Others allow warm exhaust air from the rear side of the racks to circulate into areas that should remain cool.

      According to our observations, airflow is still not receiving enough attention. Even a small and uncontrolled draft has a major impact. The countless gaps in the racks allow a lot of cooling air to flow away from the side.

      According to *Graphical Research, typical data centers waste up to 50% of the airflow from cooling.

      Managing air circulation

      What can data center providers do to optimize cooling in computer rooms? The first step is to control air circulation.

      Closed enclosures or curtains can strictly separate the rack corridors into the cold aisle and warm aisle. They ensure that the cold air flowing from the subfloor stays in the cold aisle first.

      Multi-cloud providers confirm that a well-managed cold aisle containment requires an estimated ten percent less energy. Market researchers from *Gartner say that seals that are not technically complex can save ten percent of the power consumption for cooling.

      It comes down to small, simple details to ensure cold and warm air no longer mix:

      • The cable guides can be sealed with brushes.
      • Brackets, screens, lamella, lips, and dummy plugs close gaps and empty compartments.
      • Inside the cabinets, additional lateral air ducts and sensor-controlled fans can optimize the cold-warm airflow.
      • Perforation in the front and rear doors of cabinets enables a high airflow rate.

      Cooling systems in the aisles

      Alternatively or in addition to the classic solution of blowing in cold air through raised floors, a decentralized solution in the corridors is a good idea. Innovative cooling modules and side and inline coolers can be used between and behind the cabinets. They work in an energy-efficient manner and are close to the heat sources. According to *Graphical Research, rack, and row cooling modules allow cost savings of up to 30 percent.

      It is important to ensure constant air pressure and stable air circulation in the aisles and cubes. Ensure that there is sufficient airflow throughout the aisle to prevent hot spots at the end of a row.

      Solutions from R&M

      As a brand for Integrated Data Center Infrastructure Solutions, R&M offers an entire solution package for cooling and air routing in cubes and aisles.

      • Enclosures: BladeCube enclosures combined with T7 BladeShelter cabinets from R&M Tecnosteel. With 82% perforation, the T7 cabinets reach a record for cooling air throughput.
      • Cooling: BladeCooling family with gas- and water-cooled modules, with open and closed circuits.
      • DCIM: The basis is the holistic DCIM system with the inteliPhy net software and the monitoring system R&MinteliPhy. In addition, there are remotely controllable PDUs as well as sensor technology for cabinets and computer rooms. This makes it possible to monitor rack usage, power consumption, circulation, temperature, pressure, and humidity of the air all over. The speed and wear of the fans can also be monitored.

      Incidentally: The modular BladeShelter enclosures can be integrated into brownfield infrastructures. It may therefore be worth exploring and exploiting the potential for optimization in an existing computer room.

      Find out more about our BladeShelter and inteliphy net solutions here.

       

      *Sources: Graphical Research, Gartner